Time to Party with M&S

Pass me a glass, the festive season is once again here, and I'm ready to whizz around the dance floor dressed to the nines. 

Christmas is the one time of year; I go all out. I like to wear a pretty cool, minimal wardrobe throughout the rest of the year but come party season... give me all the velvet, all the luxe fabrics, all the sparkles and all the glam makeup. If you can't go all out at Christmas...when can you?

There are lots of different vibes you can go with when dressing up for your Xmas parties. I think I will do a few posts in the coming weeks focusing on the different looks you can do, but for today, I thought I would show you a more simple, fuss-free look which is perfect for those of you who aren't into wearing dresses or being overly feminine. 

A dressy jumpsuit is suchhhhhh a good partywear option as it's one item, you don't have to faff with it or worry about matching other things to it (like you do with a skirt or top). It's more unique to wear a jumpsuit to something dressy, and you can take a relatively plain one and dress it up with killer heels, a bag and earrings.

SHOP MY FAVE M&S PARTY WEAR PIECES

I recently took part in a fantastic partywear shoot for M&S, and I chose to wear this beautiful velvet jumpsuit. Originally I styled it with an incredible tux jacket, thrown over the shoulders but because we had to dance and wave our hands around for the photographer, I ditched the jacket. The fit of this jumpsuit is out of this world. The chunky tie around the waist works really well at pulling you in, and I love the leg length works really well for my 5"3 frame. You can't see them from the photo below but the black heels I am wearing are my new faves and I might have bought them in leopard print as well. The heels are wide fit and will see you all the way from home to dance floor to the kebab house aha! They have a very comfy, chunky block heel and the velvet means they're really comfy. To finish off this look and give it a really glitzy vibe, I added these big statement square drop earrings. I am so into them as they are super bling-y but kinda cool as you don't see that many square shaped earrings.

Taking part in a Christmas M&S campaign was a dream come true. If you haven't gathered already, M&S are one of my fave brands and to take part in a shoot like this, makes me feel ever so proud. I am so so happy with how the shots have come out as well. The shoot set up was so cool. We had a DJ actually on set, playing 70s disco music and people firing confetti cannons at us as we danced. The photographer was so nice, he put us all at ease and was so complimentary of all of us. The best part...getting to drink M&S fizz while on set... god I love my job!

Shop My Look

1. Velvet Jumpsuit | 2. Black Wide Fit Heels | 3. Earrings 

 *This post is written in partnership with M&S as part of an on going collaboration. 

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Need a confidence boost this party season? I've got your back!

If you aren't feeling so festive this year because you are already struggling with what to wear during the party season - have no fear, Danie is here!

Party season is the time to let your hair down, feast on fancy foods, guzzle ALL the fizz (responsibly ;) ) and sparkle your way into the early hours! I absolutely love this time of year as I have my annual besties night out, my work Xmas do, numerous PR dinners and lots of parties to attend. This is all very well if you have a heaving wardrobe full of party wear, but what if you have one go-to dress, that's seen better days and your heels are still covered in mud from that fancy summer barn wedding you attended back in June. It's time to add some on-trend party wear pizzaz into your life, pronto!

If you struggle to know what to wear during the festive season, updating your party wear wardrobe can be quite daunting! To help you tackle some of your party wear hang-ups, the Simply Be community wanted to ask their favourite bloggers what some of their party wear/confidence woes were and I am here to answer one of the most commonly asked questions.

Hang Up #1 - "I am a size 20/22, and I feel like I've lost my confidence. What can I wear to help?"

Right, the first thing I want to say here is: YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET at a size 6, or a 26 and I won't have you think any less of yourself!! We can't just go to bed and wake up with confidence one morning, it is something that takes time and work, BUT it is very, very obtainable. Self-love and appreciation for what's inside goes a long way. Try to focus on how you still have the same beautiful soul as you did, before you gained weight/lost weight. Your weight or dress size is not a reflection of of you or how great you are!! I am a size 22 and my gosh, I prance around a party as if I'm the hottest girl in the room. I do this because I genuinely believe it and I wear things that make me feel happy, comfortable and sexy!

With that being said, I want to introduce you all to THE most comfortable party dress I have ever worn. I am, cross my heart, OBSESSED with this dress. When I tried it on, it did things to me...I tell you hahaha! Teamed with some killer heels...my confidence skyrocketed! I was posing for these photos as if I was the hottest IT girl ever to grace that central London Cafe! 

This fine knit dress is honestly so comfortable. It isn't thick, so I don't think you'll get hot in it and it's just like wearing your fave loungewear, but out and about! I love that it is a great length, it isn't too short and it just feel so cool, trendy and relaxed but with a festive edge.

If all else fails, a faux fur coat this time of year will genuinely make you feel like an absolute babe however you are feeling! Flung on over your shoulders, draped over one arm... they take a relatively simple party wear look to new levels of glam!

Simply Be have sooooo many party wear pieces this season, definitely take a peek if you fancy treating yourself! 

Photography by Bethany Elstone 

Shop My Look

1. Dress | 2. Wide Fit Heels - sadly out of stock (more options here) | 3. Faux Fur Coat

Check out all of the Simply Be Party wear here 

*This post is written in collaboration with Simply Be

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How to master tonal dressing

Taking one colour and wearing it head-to-toe, is a sure fire way of nailing the key autumn/winter trend of tonal dressing. Taking-on this trend is very easy as you simply have to dive into your wardrobe, focus on one hue and mix and match your pieces. It's a great way of using items you already have, re-using old faves and it's ultimately a super chic way of dressing. 

The most important factor you need to take into consideration is making sure you wear a variety of fabrics and textures, to break up the monochromatic look. The shades don't need to be identical but in the same 'family'. You can also do this with any colour but testing the waters with your fave shade is probably the best place to start.

 

For this head to toe tonal look, I started with a trench coat that I was gifted a few months back as part of my on-going collaboration with M&S. A classic trench is one of those everlasting styles that will never date, and it's a wardrobe staple that I think looks fantastic on anyone.

I feel that all the pieces I'm wearing for this look are all very wearable, very easy to mix and match with other items in your wardrobe (I'm already dreaming of wearing that skirt with a black sparkly roll neck, and faux fur stole come party season!)

By mixing the soft camel cashmere knit with the slightly darker tan pleather midi skirt, you keep the look interesting, and the pleats mixed with the crisp cotton of the trench also add a different dimension to the outfit. The check on the lining of the coat is also a nice little addition, and I went all out with the print clashing by adding a sheer leopard print sock. I could have worn a nice brown brogue or even a knee-high boot with this look but we all know, I love a white shoe and these shoe boots as so chic, I've been living in them all autumn. To finish off the look, I added even more brown and even more textures! This faux leather and faux fur bag looks really expensive and holds SO much.

Photography by Bethany Elstone

Shop My Look

1. *Trench Coat | 2. *Faux Leather Pleated Skirt | 3. *Cashmere Knit | 4. *Faux Fur Bucket Bag | 5. *Wide Fit Heels | 6. Socks - Monki | 7. Heart Pendant - similar here

In my opinion, there is something very chic about wearing a tonal look. I feel that it instantly makes a person look very classy, it gives them a very well put together edge, and I know that when I wear a monochromatic look; I feel very confident and like I look like I've got my sh*t together - something I think we all strive for regularly! 

 *This post is written in partnership with M&S as part of an on going collaboration. 

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4 Simple Hacks that'll help take your Summer wardrobe into Autumn

Is it the end of summer yet? Who knows?! I'm seriously lost and seriously struggling to understand what to wear when I wake in the morning! Do you need an umbrella? Is the sun going to burn you alive? Will you melt into a pool of sweat?! I can't be the only one who's a little fed up with our temperamental British weather, who's with me?

For me to feel like a slightly better human, I am trying to get more wear out of my clothes. Now, what I mean by this is that I plan on taking some of my summer fashion faves over into autumn and trying to get as much wear out of them before stashing them away until the sun next appears in 2019. This summer I have been buying pieces I specifically know I'll be able to wear long into the colder months.

A lot of things that you wear during the summer months can be rehashed and reworked for autumn/winter and here are my top 4 hacks!

1. Footwear

I have been wearing this beloved floral print dress A LOT these last few weeks. It's worked well when it's been hot and humid, and I have been wearing it with open toe sandals. Come autumn, switch the look up by wearing mules, ankle boots, platform trainers or even knee-high boots and tights. I bet if you had a look through your wardrobe now, you could find tonnes of summery dresses that would work just as well with a more autumny shoe! 

2.  Layer

Take that little shift dress you have and wear it over a white tee or striped long sleeve top. Grab a roll neck jumper and wear it under a strappy dress. Get creative! I love how a white shirt looks under a v-neck shift dress. There are lots of ways you can re-work a summery look just by building up the layers. Think thin and light - if you wear five thick, chunky layers you'll be a sweltering mess, OK? I LOVE wearing a long shirt dress over jeans and this is definitely something I am going to be doing a lot this autumn! This spotty shirt dress needs to be in my wardrobe immediately! 

3. Accessories

Come Autumn you'll still need those sunnies, so don't be ditching them any time soon. I go for chunky accessories when it starts to cool down. When it's hot, I like to wear fuss-free outfits, but something about autumn makes me want to pile on the chains, I love a good belt, hat, scarf, hair accessory... you name it! Pile them on! 

4. Underwear

Now, you might be wondering what this hack might be. Is she going to tell us about faux fur knickers, does she prefer velvet bras in the colder months, does she wear a hot water bottle shoved down her pants?! (No, no, yes are the answers to those questions by the way) but in all seriousness, I have come across a life-changing undergarment and thought it necessary to tell you all about it. It's a Reversible Slip Dress with Cool Comfort Technology which I wear under a lot of my dresses if they are a) a bit see-through b) I'm afraid of showing sweat patches on a dress or b) am feeling a little cold and need an extra layer.

This slip is soooooo good, I swear by it, and it's definitely going to help give some extra longevity to my summer dresses.

Photography by Bethany Elstone

Shop My Look

1. *Floral Print Dress | 2. *Wide Fit Mules - similar here,  here and here | 3. Handbag

Instagram Competition Time!

@Daniellevanier

One of my greatest pleasures in life is putting looks together. Whether that's for myself, helping a bestie choose a killer date night look or styling other people...like you guys! As a way of saying THANK YOU to all of you lot for following and supporting me; I wanted to give something back. 

You might have noticed over the years, I am *slightly* obsessed with M&S and we have come up with a mega exciting competition which I am so excited to finally be able to share with you.

I am offering three followers (no matter your size) the chance to spend the day with me at the M&S PR Showroom in London. I will listen to a particular style query you have, put together a look for you and you'll be able to take that entire M&S outfit home with you. We're putting on a lunch and fizz, there will be tonnes of Percy Pigs to nibble on, selfies galore and a chance to pick my brain about...well anything you fancy really!

**Entry Requirements** - For a chance to win, simply make sure 1) you're following me on Instagram (@Daniellevanier), 2) you're following @marksandspencerfashionpr on Instagram, 3) that you comment below my competition picture, with a style query you would like help with. Do you have an event coming up and you don't know what to wear? Is there an item of clothing you'd love to wear but you don't know how to style? Is there a part of your body you'd love to celebrate more with the help of clothing? Let me know in the comments below the picture and I will pick three winners! 

**Competition Details** - Must be able to travel to London on Tuesday 28th August. The event will take place from 12pm - 5pm. I will contact the 3 winners via Instagram DM so please make sure your profiles are not set to private. The competition ends on Friday 24th at 3pm. 

                                          *This post is written in partnership with M&S as part of an on going collaboration. 

Be sure to follow me over on my:
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